Western Animation / Pound Puppies (1980s)

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Hanna-Barbera created an animated TV special based on a popular line of stuffed dogs in 1985. A series appeared the next year which followed it closely, despite changing most of the voice cast. Both revolved around "the Pound Puppies", a group of dogs consisting of:

The Pound Puppies lived at a dog pound and helped other canines find good homes while taking a Masquerade as normal dogs. The puppies were cared for by their neighbor Holly, a kindly orphan girl who the dogs drop the disguise for and is a kind of Cool Big Sis. Holly lives with her guardian, an evil Cruella De Vil wannabe named Katrina Stoneheart, who hates The Pound Puppies (and dogs in general). Katrina was constantly plotting against them, with the help of her bratty daughter Brattina; their pet cat, Catgut, and occasional partner, Captain Slaughter.

The show was dramatically retooled for its second season, called "The All-New Pound Puppies" in the opening credits. What follows is a list of some of the changes:

Bright Eyes was changed into a younger (but still older than Whopper) puppy, to eliminate the possibility of a Love Triangle between her, Nose Marie, and Cooler.

The less flighty, more mature Nose Marie became a doting, apron-wearing Team Mom to Whopper and Bright Eyes.

The pound was now run by Katrina, in the manner of a concentration camp.

Howler was AWOL in many episodes.

The originally short-haired, skirt-wearing Holly had much longer hair and was a bit more of a tomboy.

Brattina wore different clothes as well.

Captain Slaughter was completely removed from the second season.

The Pound Puppies and Holly were now freedom fighters who operated out of an Elaborate Underground Base, trying to save dogs from Katrina and hook them up with lonely kids.

The premise was then retooled once more for the 1988 movie Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw, before disappearing completely, followed by the toy line in 1990, although that made an unexpected reappearance in 2007.

The sister line of toys, Pound Purries, never had the luxury of a T.V. special or series. They did make a token appearance in The Movie as supporting characters, though.

Hanna-Barbera's Pound Puppies contains examples of:

Aborted Arc: Four episodes of the first season featured Captain Slaughter, a Dr. Claw-esque villain who was responsible for destroying the puppies' home in the first place and was Cooler's greatest enemy. When the show was retooled in its second season, he disappeared, his storyline never resolved.

Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: The All-New Pound Puppies saw the complete disappearance of Captain Slaughter, while Howler was pushed Out of Focus. Before that, the TV series pared down the pups from the special to five and completely replaced the human supporting cast/setting.

Disney Death: Happens at the end of the '85 special when Cooler gets hit by a car.

A number of the one-shot puppy characters were pretty obvious dog versions of famous characters, entertainers or actors, probably aa a sort of Parental Bonus. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the "Three Wise Guys" from one episode who were clearly modeled on The Marx Brothers.

Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal: Bright Eyes and Nose Marie wear nothing underneath their skirts, and Cooler and Howler are pantsless as well. Whopper wears only just a diaper.

Having a Gay Old Time: Thought to be one of the reasons Pound Puppies' feline counterparts were called Pound Purries.

Improbable Age: In the first season Holly owns a puppy pound despite being a minor. Averted in the second season where Katrina owns the pound.

Jerkass Has a Point: Her obvious hatred of dogs aside, Katrina's initial complaints in "How to Found a Pound" are actually quite valid. The constant barking of several dozen dogs would be quite intolerable for any neighbors, along with the potential odor and hygiene issues if the dogs' owner can't keep up. That many animals in a private residence isn't exactly a good thing.

Motive Decay: Katrina in All New Pound Puppies. In the first season, she keeps trying to get the pound shut down so that she can tear it down and build expensive condos for rich people and make a lot of money. In the second season, where she actually owns and runs the pound, her only goal is to lock up every puppy and keep them behind bars.

Na´ve Newcomer: Violet in the '85 special; Holly at the start of the TV series.

Also, the shows like to use "puppy" to describe a dog regardless of age. For example, the millennia-old Big Paw is just a "lonely puppy without a home", and the mother "puppy" gives birth to a litter of actual puppies (who the other characters call "puplings). Don't think about that too hard.

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